Plants have served mankind since ages as they are reservoirs of important medicinal components and help to alleviate chronic diseases. Medicinal plants play an appreciable role in the development of modern herbal medicines as many diseases like cancer, liver diseases and arthritis find no complete cure in allopathy. The bioactive compounds of medicinal plants are used as anti diabetic, chemotherapeutic, anti inflammatory, anti arthritic agents where no satisfactory cure is present in modern medicines. Many plants have shown their immense potential to fight against dreadful diseases including cancer. Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine disorder that affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, fat, electrolytes and water and includes a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia. Currently, there is growing interest in herbal remedies due to the side effects associated with the oral hypoglycemic agents for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Hence the traditional herbal medicines are mainly obtained from plants are used in the management of diabetes mellitus. Biological actions of the plant products used as alternative medicines to treat diabetes are in relevance to their chemical composition. Herbal products or plant products are rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds, coumarins, terpenoids and other constituents which help to reduce blood glucose levels. Several species of herbal drugs with potential antidiabetic activity have been described in the scientific literature. Herbal drugs are prescribed due to their good effectiveness, fewer side effects in clinical experience and relatively low costs. Medicinal and natural herbal plant products are traditionally used from long time in many countries for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. One such plant, Borassus flabellifer L, belongs to family Arecaceae, commonly known as Palmyra palm is a native of tropical Africa but cultivated throughout India. Traditionally the different parts of the plant such as root, leaves, fruit, and seeds are used for various human disorders. Leaves are used for thatching, mats, baskets, fans. Flowers of B. flabellifer were investigated for analgesic and antipyretic effects, anti-inflammatory activity, haematological, biochemical parameters, and immunosuppressant property. The different parts of the plant are being used for medicinal properties like antihelminthic and diuretic. The fruit pulp of B. flabellifer has been used in traditional dishes and the sap, has been used as a sweetener for diabetic patients. Phytochemical studies of the plant revealed the presence of spirostane-type steroid saponins; steroidal glycoside also contains a bitter compound called flabelliferrins. The present work was to evaluate the in vitro anti diabetic activity of methanolic extracts of sprouts of Borassus flabellifer linn by studying their effects on inhibition of glycosylation of haemoglobin and glucose transport across yeast cells.
Nice article